First Impression: Lotus Exige S - Plenty of bite to match its bark

Tom

TIMETOATTACK
Helmet Clan
Jul 6, 2000
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Performance figures from an Exige S are immense. It does zerotohundred in about 4 seconds, it is as light as a feather, churns 8000rpm from a supercharged 1.8 Toyota engine that is bolted to an overgrown go-kart chassis and wrapped in a fiberglass bodyshell weighing in at 930kg in total. There are absolutely no gimmicks here. No paddle shifting, no auto blipping and not much of anything else.



Fast. Stationary.

The Lotus Exige S is just plain raw. It's just you, the bucket seat, the super-rigid glued on chassis, a 6-speed box, 3 foot pedals, each, to tame the ferocious 220bhp intercooled lump just inches behind you, separated by a small glass window and there is no power steering. As if getting off the line isn't already quick enough, you also get launch control feature to achieve 4.5 second launches, but only if you're quick with your shifts.



Tools of the trade.

Facts about The Exige S:

  • Zerotohundred: About 4 seconds
  • Top Speed: 238km/h
  • Engine: 1.8L Supercharged Toyota 2zz
  • Power: 220bhp
  • Torque 220nm
  • Weight: 933kg
  • Fuel: 9.1L / 100km
  • Wheels: 17x7
  • Tyres 195/50/16 215/45/17
  • Price: RM338,000



Stands out like a sore thumb.

Regular drivers' need not apply. The Lotus path is a journey fit only for the brave and hardy individuals who can harness pure driving pleasure translated from Chapman's life-long philosphy. It rewards good drivers but punishes the bad. Having said that, the Exige S isn't all that brutal. It is surprisingly easy to drive, the clutch is firm but manageable, steering is weighted but not heavy, the car has good clearance off your daily obstacles and it even has traction control for visits to uncharted terrains and the occasional rain.



Lotus Traction Control System - The knob governs how much you can misbehave

So even if an inexperienced driver takes the wheel, he is dummy-proofed, to a certain extent. Traction control is also adjustable to suit different levels of insanity. As long as it's on, no matter the modes, power will be taken from you to prevent the slightest wheelspin. Perfect for drivers who do not intend to discover the final frontier in grip around that breathtaking cliff-side bend. However, the Lotus Traction Control System will not reel you back into course should you get into get into fishtail.



It's like an r/c toy, only you're inside.

The reason why the Exige S isn't designed for everyone is simple. Exiges are built from the Elise's base, built from simple pieces of aluminium sections and then glued together forming a hard monocoque chassis, resembling a Tub. The Tub dictates the cockpit. Getting in to the Exige is like climbing into a Little-Tikes' toy.



A luxurious go-kart.

It's not a car that you sit in, rather, it's something that you wear into. Your body need to twist, bend and turn in order to enter. Best done in one swift motion only to be seated snug in the wafer-thin bucket seat mounted directly to the floorpan and it is practically at road curb level. Close the door and the windows are at neck-level. You look through the rear view mirror and find a giant intercooler instead. The mirror is there to comply with the Exige S being a road legal race car.



Firestarter.

Clutch in, depress the start button and you're immediately greeted with a throaty growl as the ticks and pulley whines escapes through the mesh window sections in the bootlid which doubles up an engine cover. Vigorous pulsating sensation start to make way up your spine and chills your brains. You start to look around and find yourself driving so low, you'll no longer need the access card to drive through the guardhouse gate arm or money for the toll plazas (almost).



Padded fiberglass scoops they call seats.

Taking a slow drive through the city, you're served with thumps, jolts and judders from the slightest road blemishes, all caused by the rigid shell plus absence of sound and vibration dampeners. So if one manages to successfully brave the discomforts above, the ultimate question to answer next is, "do i get the hell out or do I pursue?". An easy question to answer for discerning adrenaline junkies.



Your rear passenger that makes all the noise.

Say you've arrived at the foothill of Genting Highlands (our favourite) and if pursue is your word, you're in for a blast. Clutch in, slot into first, rev that superbike-like engine, clutch out and you'll be catapulting into the next dimension of hardcore driving pleasure. At blast-off, an immediate boost from the 'charger shove you back as the mechanical whine accentuate the acceleleration G's and that alone would have made you mum pass out. But prepare for a blast No.2 as the variable valves engage rudely while emitting an instant amplification of exhaust note, hyper-driving you right up to 8000rpm. It's really quick.



We'd much prefer the ballistic Honda K20A but Toyota's thunderous 2ZZ-GE will do just fine

By the time it takes you to say "@#$%" you're on your way to 4th, almost forgetting how easily you got through the bends behind you. Head straight for an approaching hard right turn. Squeeze the AP 4pot brakes while H&T'ing down to 2nd and reduction in speed is unreal. Take the turn and the Exige S immediately inspire that familiar go-kart confidence with pin point accurate steering and incredible grip from the semi slick Yoko A048 tyres. Its agility and grip ranks among the top performance cars.



Semi Slicks - slick on wet but stick on dry.

Enter just a dab too fast and you'll be caught with a slight understeer, which easily diminishes as you feather the throttle out the exit. Get back on the power, go through the revs, repeat the moves above and consume as needed. It is truly intoxicating, as the Exige S is every bit a racecar, it's impractical, it's loud, it's low and even looks like one. So driving it is nothing short of an experience each and every time. It's naughty and very sinful.



It's got the bite to match its bark

But understeer from an Exige S you ask? While the Lotus tuned factory suspension is brilliant at balancing between purpose and practicality, it is also handicapped by it. Purists would crave for a spoonful of added stiffness and the nerds will never appreciate the comfort. It's not really a problem to be honest, it's perhaps character. What the Lotus engineers intended it to be. But If you like, the Lotus Sport Pack cures this with racier Bilstein shocks, adjustable front anti-roll bar and a cockpit rollbar, taking the word "Serious" to a new level.



Tic-Tac

The Exige S we had is equipped with the Performance pack that includes menacing, more pronounced roofscoop dedicated to cooling the massive intercooler, AP brakes, a new front end, designed to direct air through the heat exchangers better and also increase aerodynamic efficiencies, in fact, when coupled with the rear wing and diffusers underneath the car, it now generates about 40kg of downforce at 160km/h.



Newer MKII Elise and Exige looks really good

Being extremely lightweight, spartan and focused, the Exige S will surprise Supercars triple its price, be it at traffic light sprints, at the circuit or finding space at the car park. But what the Exige S will never be able to do is match its rivals up to sub 300km/h on the highway nor ferry a lady to a dinner in style.



No carpets given, but floormats are free

Girls can forget about turning up in skirts to drive or ride shotgun in the Exige S unless thegutterpost.com is where they want to appear. You can never get into the Exige without revealing your crotch. But despite the Exige S being a demanding car, It has a working air con, power windows and even an audio system with iPod connectivity! It's like a Fitness centre with free buffet. What about weight handicap? In truth, it's quite negligible in terms of extra weight gained, especially for the road, considering a regular guy weighing 70kg would have contributed to 1000kg in total.



iPod, Air con and cupholder makes for a complete road car



Optional cupholder is bespoke but costs more than it weighs.

We like:

  • How it looks
  • Superb handling
  • A piece of Lotus heritage
  • 220bhp, 8000rpm Engine

We hate:

  • The Price
  • Horn button embedded into thumb grips
  • Gearshifts could be tighter
  • K20A would have been really really sweet.



To find out more about Lotus Cars or to arrange for a preview, contact:

LOTUS CARS MALAYSIA
Centre of Excellence Complex, 47600 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Edward Tan +603-8026 9870
M +6012-277 4770
F +603-8026 9843
http://www.lotuscars.com ; http://welovelotus.com
[email protected]
 

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yamatek

Junior Member
Jul 21, 2010
8
1
503
Kuala Lumpur
That exige is a real sick car. This car can only be compared to ferraris and porsches. But with toyota engine, im sure its much much more reliable.

Was in Lotus Cars showroom next to kesas highway once less than one year ago.

Asked about the Lotus elise 1.8 with the 1ZZ engine. Was told that the price has increased, as lotus Malaysia only managed to bring in a small amount of elises at approx 220-240k depending on trim without paying full AP. The newer batches are at full price.

That was a real disappointment as i was there with my cheque book ready, albeit with my 60 year old mom, as she wanted to see how can someone pay that kind of money for a 2 seater tiny car without carpets!!!
 

EvolutionZ

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Aug 3, 2007
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yup...without carpet....good one! LOL
 

[H] [K] [S]

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Dear Tom, may I know where was this shot taken?! I just love the narrow back alley backdrop. Was thinking of getting few shots of my own over there...
 

Izso

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Mar 28, 2004
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Umm... Tom, do you think you could make the thumbnails span across two rows or three? Right now it's all in one line and not everyone has 22" monitors :biggrin:

and Damn... I wanna test drive super nice cars too
 

^pomen_GTR^

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if only this car get proton badges and exploit reduced final price with that.....
 

Temujin

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Awesome review! Makes me want to have one of those.. :driver:

How's the launch control like? Saw it in Fifth Gear and it looked painful..
 

HKS-GT2835R

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We hate:

  • The Price
  • Horn button embedded into thumb grips
  • Gearshifts could be tighter
  • K20A would have been really really sweet.
never got enuff ar that one, i reckon.

lets say they came with supercharged K20A as standard.
turning it into a K20/K24 hybrid would be very tempting hahaaa

is this the same one? spoiler bit different
->http://www.mudah.my/Lotus+Exige+S-10503944.htm
 
Last edited:

keeltha

Known Member
Senior Member
Jan 13, 2011
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Exige S is already a damn good car itself. :proud:

If come with supercharged K20A as standard... It will be "CRAZY" :adore::adore:

Lotus car = the more u explore about the car the more u like it :biggrin::driver:
 

^pomen_GTR^

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May 13, 2010
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watch best motoring american touge got elise with scharged k20 motor in it...got good rating also
 

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